Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Baby Booties Without Seams (bottom up)

A pattern by YarnThrowerThis pattern was inspired by Ruth's "Perfect" Baby Booties, though my construction method is quite different, eliminating the seam found along the back and center bottom of many baby bootie patterns. (After searching online **unsuccessfully** for a "seamless" baby bootie pattern, I decided to figure one out on my own...)

This pattern utilizes a cast on which is often used in toe-up sock patterns. A couple of methods are Judy's Magic Cast-On and Deb's Turkish Cast-On. [I find that this type of cast-on works very well using a long circular needle (magic loop), continuing with that needle until at least the first row is knit.]

(This pattern is the property of YarnThrower and may not be reproduced except for one copy for individual use. If you print or distribute this pattern without YarnThrower's written permission, you are stealing.)

Needles required: Size 5 DPN's, or very long circular needle (40" for magic loop), or both.

Note: I used a size 2 circular needle which is 40 inches long to cast on and work the first round (because that happens to be the largest diameter *long* circular needle I have), and then switched to size 5 DPN's for the rest of the bootie.

Yarn required: DK weight

Added August 20, 2009

Abbreviations (assumes right handed knitter):

P#: Purl the given # of stitches

K#: Knit the given # of stitches

M1: Make 1 (a method of increasing which is almost invisible, done by inserting tip of left needle underneath the little "bar" of yarn which runs between the needles, from front to back, forming a new stitch on the left needle, and then knitting into the *back* of that new stitch)

SSK: Slip, slip, knit (Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip another stitch as if to knit, insert left needle into front of both stitches from left to right, wrap yarn around right needle and pull loop through both slipped stitches, sort of knitting through the backs of the stitches which have been slipped.)

P2tog: Purl two stitches together

K2tog: Knit two stitches together

YO: Yarn over (bring yarn from back of work to front of work -- makes a hole if "knitting" all stitches)

End of August 20, 2009 edits

Directions:

Sole and sides of bootie:

Using your preferred method for a "toe-up" style cast-on, Cast-On 28 stitches. (There will be 14 stitches on each of the two needles.)

Knit one round. (After this row, I switched over to my size 5 DPN's.)

*P1, M1, P12, M1, P1* twice. (Note: To do a "M1" on a purl row, insert the left needle through the back of the little bar which extends between the first stitch on the left needle and the first stitch on the right needle, effectively adding a "stitch" to the left needle; then purl this "new" stitch.)

Knit one round.

*P2, M1, P12, M1, P2* twice.

*K1, M1, K16, M1, K1* twice.

*P3, M1, P14, M1, P3* twice.

*K1, M1, K20, M1, K1* twice.

*P4, M1, P16, M1, P4* twice. (52 stitches)

Knit eight rounds.

Top of bootie shaping:

K29, SSK, turn.

Purl Short Row: Slip 1 as to purl, P6, P2tog, turn.

Knit Short Row: Slip 1 as to knit, K6, SSK, turn.

Repeat these two rows until the total number of stitches is 36, ending with the purl row, except do not turn work on the final purl row.

Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle, bring yarn to opposite side of work, and return the slipped stitch to the left needle. (This "wraps" the next stitch.) Now turn work.

Continuing in the round, knit to the end of the round, which is at the center back of the bootie.

Cuff:

Knit one round, working the wrap along with the stitch it wraps together as one.

Knit one round.

*K2tog, YO, K1* repeat until end of row. (This forms eyelets for inserting a tie.)

Knit one round.

Work K2 P2 ribbing for 15 to 20 rounds. Bootie shown in photo has 15 rounds of ribbing.

Finishing:

Cut yarn.

Weave in ends.

NO SEAM TO SEW!

As always, I welcome your comments, concerns, suggestions -- and by all means, if you find an error or if something is confusing, I'd love to know about it so that I may improve the pattern!

Thanks. I was working out my own baby booties, also bottom up. I think we were thinking along the same lines as mine look a lot like yours.

I was stuck at the toe shaping and just couldn't quite work out the proper short rows. I found your pattern which helped me past that point. I really appreciate it and gave you due credit in my own posts regarding the booties.

Mumster -- When the instructions say to use your preferred method for a toe-up cast on, I'd recommend using one of the two links I give earlier in the pattern -- both "Judy's Magic Cast-On," or "Deb's Turkish Cast-On," should work well for this. Good luck!

I am a little more advanced than a beginner, but this intermediate is over my head. I can work the cuff with no problem but I am stuck there. After knitting 2 rounds is the following: (Next round (set up round): K20, M1, turn )Worked by turning and then just knit the first 20 stitches, or not turning the work and knitting the last 20 stitches? I know that it is complicated but a video of how to do this would be VERY HELPFUL.

I made one of these yesterday (in LionBrand microspun yarn in royal blue - is that what your sample one is in?) and it is adorable! I cannot wait to finish the pair. The pattern was relatively easy to follow for an intermediate knitter such as myself. Thank you so much for providing it.

i really like the pattern and they are adorable when they are done but i think u really need to clarify and set a key for some of ur abriviations such as M1 and others for those who havent yet hit that intermediate stage but would like to try and make botties. so if u could make a key that would be very helpful to me because i really likeur pattern and love how they loomk but i cant understand some of the abriviations, so i would very much appriciate it if u added a key thank you nikki

Cute booties ! I've been looking for a seamless pattern and this was perfect. Looks like it would be fairly easy to change the cuff and/or the top. I'm getting a small hole though where the last short row ends and the knit round begins. Any suggestions for avoiding this ? Thanks again for your pattern

The "wrap and turn" after the last short row was put in the pattern to avoid the little hole you are talking about. If that is not enough, I would suggest picking up a stitch (to close the hole) on the next round, and then decreasing that extra stitch out on the round after that.

hi yeah do u think u could possiably make that key i asked for anytime soon? sorry but i think a lot more people would be making your booties if you would add a helpful key. not all of us can knit pro yet. thanks nikki

thank you so much im sorry if i came on too strongly but it is very frustrating trying to find all the different abb. to work with in any pattern it is a great pattern and i absolutely love it. i actually finished one because i was able to find the abbreviation on google. thank you!

I gave the booties away without measuring the gauge. I am wondering if you might get some hints from some of the folks on Ravelry who have made this pattern? I realize a gauge would be helpful for the reasons you mentioned and more. Please also keep in mind that it is a free pattern which I only made available in case others might find it useful, and since I am in the middle of a doctoral program (plus I am a wife and mom), it is unlikely that I'm going to make the booties again any time soon...but if I do, I'll make sure to measure the gauge :-) Sorry that's the best I can do right now...

Thank you! I haven't been knitting for very long, but I found your pattern pretty easy to follow. I've knitted two pairs now. Below is the link to a picture of the second ones.http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs424.snc4/46763_10150250921685323_596790322_14000478_8291442_n.jpg

I'm wanting to make these for a friend, but only have sock yarn available at the moment and won't have time to make a yarn run before her baby shower on Wednsday. Would that be an acceptable substitute, or is it just too fine? I would *really* appreciate it if you could email me about this at kerrough@yahoo.com

Hello, thanks for this pattern. I have a beginner question... at what point do I join to work in the round? In the beginning it says to cast on 12 stitches per needle, but doesnt say when to join. For better knitters, it probably goes without explanation, but I need step by step... Thanks! :)

You are actually knitting in the round... You must work one of the special cast-ons mentioned at the top of the pattern, which are typically used when knitting toe-up socks in the round, and if you do that, you will automatically be knitting in the round. The pattern links to a couple of web sites which may be very helpful regarding this... Best wishes using the pattern!

I have never knitted before, but I really want to make some booties for my baby (I'm due in July). These ones are so cute, I'm just hesitant to try because they may be to difficult for me to finish. Any ideas?

Leah - I would consider these booties to be more of an intermediate project. I'm not trying to scare you away from them, but if you have a friend who is a knitter who has made socks from the toe up, that would be helpful. Something else to consider -- I think it might be easier for you to begin with the companion "top down" bootie pattern... Even so, there are techniques such as knitting in the round with double pointed needles which might be intimidating. I wouldn't say that they are "difficult," but I do think that as a first project, they would be a challenge. There are many online tutorials for the techniques, so if you are patient and don't mind digging in a little bit, you could figure it out...

Thanks! I think I might start with a blanket or something a little easier, and then try the booties. After all, my days are pretty much empty so I'm not pressed for time. I just want to make something for the baby, so I'll look for a blanket pattern to try first. :)

Received a comment in my e-mail from anonymous, which I am unable to see on the actual post, so am including here - "I'm kind of new to knitting and it says to repeat the two rows till u have 36 stitches on the final purl row but to not turn does that mean I should purl to the end or just go with the next step?"Answer: You will just go on to the next step, which is basically a wrap and turn, and after that you will be knitting in the round again...

Leah - That is fantastic! Glad to hear of your success! Also, no shame in ripping out - I ripped out an entire sweater before Christmas, and used the yarn for a new pattern that I am now much happier with! Thanks for sharing your experience with the pattern!

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the differences between Apple's iPhone and phones based on Google's Android. While these discussions typically center on hardware, usability and the operating system, they rarely discuss the differences between the Android Market vs.

I love what exactly this topic is doing for me and people I know. Through knowledge of the tips you have discussed will really make you a better person and more useful for yourself.lewes website marketing

Thanks for the nice blog. It was very useful for me. Keep sharing such ideas in the future as well. This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad to came here! Thanks for sharing the such information with us.

Awesome man..!! Great work.. I have read your blog.. It's really amazing..Love to read it.. and it's very informative for my business..If you are more updates about this blog.. Please inform me.. And share me.. Thanks for share this fabulous post..!!!

I am very happy to read your blog. This is another fantastic blog postwhat I have read. There are so many tools available that it becomes difficult to know which will work. And how best to use them.Natural supplements

Hey, I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most partpeople lack substance butI just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog!…..I’ll be checking in on a regularly now….Keep up the good work!tubal ligation reversaltubal reversals

Sleeping pills can lose their effectiveness if used on a nightly basis, because the brain receptors become less sensitive to their effects. In as little as three to four weeks, benzodiazepines can become no more effective than a sugar pill.

The "wrap" looks like a little loop that goes around the base of the stitch that it wrapped. When you come to this wrapped stitch, place the wrap/loop up onto the needle so that it is adjacent to the stitch that it is wrapping; then, knit the wrap and the stitch together as one stitch. Does this make sense? If not, let me know and I'll try to explain again...

Houston credit repair and save money. Your credit score largely determines the lenders available and the interest rate at which they will lend. Fix credit and expand the number of lenders willing to compete for your loan.

Great pattern! I made these in sock yarn with size 3 circs. This change definately made them 'newborn' size booties. I don't usually use magic loop but it wasn't too difficult with this project. Also to M1 I just knit into the back of the next stitch to avoid the holes that I noticed others mention in previous comments. Hope these suggestions help anyone that's just getting started!

I just love this pattern, I made quite a few pairs for my now 2 year old and I found them the best booties ever, they stayed on and were a great size for a New born-3months. I now have to make a pair for my new baby, due in 2 weeks. she is a girl so want to do a pink pair, rather than using her brothers ones.

Thank you so much for the pattern, I'm beginner/intermediate and I found it really easy to follow and they're shaping into adorable booties. Just one question, I don't quite understand what you mean by

"Knit one round, working the wrap along with the stitch it wraps together as one."

Hi…………………….?????? I hope you are good and so happy I tell you that GOD us love who is created man .. He give us eyes to see and lips for smiling .. He give us legs for walking … and hands for working .. I hope you like my comments and thanks for shearing pray for me…????????????

I have worked for Value Village, and the people who shop there are normal everyday people, sure there are some eccentrics, but no more than anywhere else. I also worked at Wal Mart and there really is no difference in the clientele. Maybe Stonebridge should ban garage sales too, who knows what kinds of hooligans might be drawn to the neighborhood looking for a good deal. They will probably drive down the property value just by driving through the area! Oh no! What if there are people who live in Stonebridge who post a kijiji ad to sell something and have people come there to pick it up? This must be stopped too. Don't they know the potential danger to the neighborhood?writing persuasive essays

Certainly I like your website, however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform you. However I will certainly come back again!salwar kameez indian style

Hello! I simply would really like to present large thumbs up for the nice information you’ve got here on this post. i’ll be coming to your journal for a lot of before long cheap nfl jerseyscheap mlb jerseys

A lot of people in our industry haven't had very diverse experiences. So they don't have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one's understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.

This pattern was just as perfect as Ruth's pattern, more so because there was no seams. :) I did the bottoms up bootie. Perfect pattern. Everything fell right into place. I know because I did Ruth's bootie right before doing yours. I will try the top down bootie, next time around. Very well written. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Thank you for this pattern! I used a light worsted with sz 1.5 needles - two at a time before & after the short row section & it worked out well:)! I didn't see instructions for binding off. What are your recomendations for the bind off?

hi,w/this pattern and the needle/yarn you used. what size did you end up making. im trying to use this pattern for a newborn when i tried w/my size 5 dpn's and the baby yarn it's looking like it'll fit a big baby

Cynthia - I did not measure the booties I made, though they were on the large side. I've given these as gifts, and newborns grow so quickly that it didn't take long for them to fit into the booties. If you'd like a smaller size, you might try using smaller diameter yarn and needles. Laura

I really liked this pattern! One question, I've finished the first one and it seems like on the top/sides where I've worked the short rows kind of cave into the bootie instead of standing outward like shown in the photo. Did I do something wrong? Are the ones in the photo stuffed? Thanks!

This pattern is really great and adorable. I just finished the first bootie. I just wanted to mention that it requires some "intermediate" skills, but if you pay close attention, it will work like a charm. You need to know what short rows are and how to knit using the magic loop.

Anyways, my LO is 10 months old now and the bootie I made seems to be for newborns or smaller babies.

Would you be kind to update some instruction for this pattern to fit an older baby? Thank you very much! I will do the second bootie anyway and I will make a gift for one friend who is due in April.

Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I'll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I'll definitely return.

I'm a bit confused. If you are doing this in the round, then surely every row is a knit and not alternating with purls? Am I missing something.?Pattern looks so nice I'd like to have a go. Thanks for publishing it anyway.

Jennifer, This pattern begins with knitting the bottom of the bootie, which is garter stitch. In order to achieve garter stitch in the round, you must alternate knit and purl rows. (Knitting every round would give you stockinette stitch...) I hope this helps! Laura

Good morning to u...Ive got to get busy tv making baby stuff,But the only type of knitting i can do is on the loom..lomm knitting.....Do you know how to change crochet or just knitting into loom knit knitting? Or do you have any loom knit patterns for a newborn?? Thank you very much!! Have a great day☺

Thank you so much for all the time and effort you clearly took to make this available for other knitters. Your written instructions were very clear: I've been disappointed before when I've started a pattern only to unravel it because I couldn't read the remaining instructions ;) I love no seams for babies! Thank you again so much and I promise to keep exclusively for personal use :))

Hi there, these lovely seamless booties are not made with a 'crochet' hook. They are knitted "in-the-round" with circular needles or using double-pointed needles. All the terms are easy to understand from internet searches and especially youtube videos. The key is to persevere. All the best :)

Found your blog. It is full of really good information. Thank you for sharing. If you ever need service on air conditioning repair please visit us at rheemteamcomfort.com. We would love it if you would have a look at some of our blogs and let us know your thoughts.

Your seamless baby boots look amazingly! Thanks for sharing!I know that is not easy to knit when you have a little baby! Nice sharing! You can cooperate with our writing service if there are so many articles are waiting for publication!

I am so glad I have finally found a pattern for a seamless knit baby bootie!!! I am currently working on this pattern, but I am a bit confused as to start the top of bootie shaping where you do the short rows. I am using a very long circular needle and doing magic loop but how do you knit flat doing that? Thanks again!

I thought about doing this many times before and thought about creating a pattern too but did not want to try it this way because I suck at casting of but I like doing the top down way though I think I do it differently but very similar method either way it is amazing how many people have similar thoughts....all in all I think it is wonderful... :)